The talking machine world (Apr-June 1921)

84 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD May 15, 1921 THE TRADE IN BOSTON AND NEW ENGLAND— (Continued from page 83) give the Berry concern a large number of names which can be used to advantage later. It is announced that the exact number of needles in the jar will be made known on May 15 in one of the Boston daily papers. The entire exhibit was in charge of J. A. Daly, who was assisted by a staff of women. The first prize is a $295 Chippendale model Edison, and the second a No. XI Victrola. The only other entrant was the M. Steinert & Sons Co., which has installed a handsome Victrola in a model cottage which was put up b}^ the Gardenside Homes, Inc. Novel Plan of Selling Records Manager Wheatley as well as all the staff connected with the Vocalion was especially interested in a plan that was put forth with great success in town last week. The Filene employes (this is one of Boston's biggest specialty shops) put on a musical comedy called "Home Brew" at the Tremont Theatre, and there were four musical numbers, two fox-trots and two one-steps, which were recorded on a double-face Vocalion disc. They were among the most popular numbers of the play and these discs were for sale in the lobby of the theatre as the audience filed out and could also be heard on a Vocalion, which played them at the same time. So well did the audiences, for there were six of them during the week, enjoy these particular numbers that manj' of the records were sold following each performance. Herbert W. Lund Returns From England Herbert W. Lund, who has lately attached himself to the Tremont Talking Machine Co., was for eight months over in England and the Continent, whither he went primarily to visit his family, which lives just outside of London. While in England he made a study of talking machine conditions and it did not take him long to discover that the industry was only in its infancy in that country. One thing that Mr. Lund brought back with him as a cherished possession was a record of the choir in Westminster Abbey. Before going abroad Mr. Lund was connected with the Vocalion headquarters in Boylston street. Moves to Handsome New Home On the first of May Widener's Grafonola Shop moved from the building at the corner of Washington street and Temple place, where it had occupied quarters on the second floor for several years, to 23 West street, only a short distance away. Here a large ground floor has been tastefully arranged with eight booths done in ivory with furnishings of blue. The Columbia and the Granby machines will be carried as well as Columbia records, and special attention will be given to period models, to which the man nORTOII-GALLO-CREAMERCQ NEW HAVEN •mis mastehs voice" CONNECTICUT VICTOR SERVICE SPECIALISTS ager, Fred L. MacNeil, has for some time been giving especial attention. Traveling through !New England for the Widener shops will be William Sullivan and Frank Colahan, both experienced men in the talking machine business. Mr. Widener now operates shops in a number of places, including Springfield and Worcester, Mass., Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport, Conn., New York City, Brooklyn, Philadelphia. Newark, N. J., St. Louis, and Indianapolis, Ind. Looking for Big May Business E. B. Shiddell, of the E. B. Shiddell Co., is now located in larger quarters at 142 Berkeley street, which is the same location he has been at for some time, only he has moved down one flight and into another section on the third floor of the building. Mr. Shiddell has taken on the Granby machine and lately he has signed up with as many as fifteen dealers throughout the New England territory. The prospects look good for a fine May business, that of April having shown up better than March. As Okeh distributor Mr. Shiddell's concern has found a rapidly growing demand for this line of goods. Soon to Become Benedict Herbert Shoemaker's many friends in the talking machine trade will be glad to karn that he has included matrimony in his June itinerary. This able official of the Eastern Talking Machine Co. has just become engaged to Miss Dorothy Bacon, daughter of A. L. Bacon, of Arlington, the family being one of the oldest in this town. Mr. Shoemaker is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, class of '15. Their wedding will take place in June and be a verj' quiet one. High Rents Deterrent to Business Arthur C. Erisman, manager of the Grafonola Co. of New England, says that one of the greatest deterrents to better business in the talking machine industry has been increasing rents and numerous cases have been brought to his attention where payments have been stopped on machines or machines surrendered in cases TWO POINTS OF CONTACT BOSTON 'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^^^^^^^^^^ NEW YORK FOR DITSON SERVICE Double service that is founded on successful experience in handling the problems of the retailer and proves of genuine assistance. BOSTON Oliver Ditson Co. NEW YORK Chas. H. Ditson & Co. V I C T O R EXCLUSIVELY